Pick-A-Card Game

ABSTRACT

A method for playing a betting game with a standard deck of 52 cards wherein the betting table is configured with regimented sections correlating to groups of cards or individual cards themselves, in order to allow players to bet on a card selected from the deck based on the suit and number of the card selected. The betting structure is similar to that of the traditional game of Roulette, helping to ensure that players grasp the rules rapidly. The game is preferably divided into three phases: a betting phase, a card selection phase, and a payout phase. During the betting phase, players place chips on locations within the table layout corresponding to values, suits, and colors of cards to be drawn from the deck. The card selected indicates the winner of the game when a bet has been placed on the location representing the selected card value, suit, or color.

FIELD OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention relates to gaming conventions, and more specifically, to those games designed to be played in a gambling context, such as within the confines of a licensed casino with a multitude of players. The present invention employs a standard deck of 52 playing cards in order to create a novel game designed to be played with a dealer and one or more players. A card is selected from the deck, and players place bets according to their prediction of what suit or number of card will be drawn by placing bets in the form of conventional chips representing currency on the betting table.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

As gambling continues to be legalized in more locations around the world, growing casinos have an ever-present need for new games for their guests to engage in, in order to keep guests coming back to their establishment. Often, several new table games are introduced each year with the hopes of winning over guests, and encouraging them to return to the casino for additional play.

Unfortunately, many of the new games introduced often fail because they are either too complex, or are simply too unfamiliar to those accustomed to playing traditional, or tried-and-true casino table games, such as Black Jack, Poker, Roulette, and Craps. It is therefore known that, in general, the most successful new table games are those that maintain a similar betting structure or table layout to traditional games, as players are more prone to adapt to the new rules when playing a similar game.

Conventionally, of the easiest table games for new players to learn to play is notably Roulette. Traditionally, a player places a bet in the form of a conventional casino chip (representing a standard currency) on a desired portion on the table which corresponds to a number or group of numbers (commonly ranging from 0-36). Once a bet is placed, the remainder of the game is out of the player's hands. A ball is placed into a tumbler, and invariably lands on one of the numbers ranging from 0 to 36. If the player bet the winning number, then the player wins. The odds of winning the game of the present invention are preferably maintained and governed by the casino staff, and occasionally regulated by the government, to ensure that the house has a slight advantage, but not so much as to take advantage of players.

However, games such as Roulette rarely ever change or adapt. Often players may wish to play a round of a game faster, without having to wait in anxious anticipation for the wheel to stop spinning. Similarly, often players grow tired of playing the same traditional games over and over again, and long to play new games on the casino floor that are engaging, live, and held on a traditional table-game felt surface.

Thus, there is a need for a new casino table game that employs similar gaming conventions and/or betting structures, while providing the player with a novel, engaging game capable of encouraging the player to return to the casino in the future.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention is a method for playing a card based game. It is configured to be played in a betting environment, and the betting structure is similar to that of the traditional game of Roulette, which helps to facilitate rapid understanding of the rules by new players.

The game of the present invention maintains three primary phases: the betting phase, the card selection phase, and the payoff phase. The betting phase consists of players placing chips representing currency on designated locations on the table corresponding to the color, suit, and/or number of a traditional playing card from a standard deck of 52 cards. This is similar in style to the betting phase of the traditional game of Roulette, wherein players place bets in the form of chips representing currency on designated locations on the table corresponding to numbers or colors on a standard roulette wheel.

The card selection phase is performed after all bets are placed. The dealer selects three cards from the top of the deck, and designates a player to select one of the three cards to be the ‘active’ card. The ‘active’ card is selected preferably via the use of a conventional cut card, placed on top of the ‘active’ card by a designated player. Subsequently, the other two ‘inactive’ cards are discarded.

Upon the selection of the ‘active’ card, the payout phase may commence. The ‘active’ card is flipped over by the dealer for all players to see. The dealer preferably then places a win marker on the card number or face card value as indicated by the ‘active’ card. Payouts are given to all winning players according to the odds set forth by the standardized rules of the present invention. Chips placed on non-winning locations on the table are collected by the dealer. After payment to the winners, the dealer then removes the win marker from the table, and players are free to place their bets for the next deal of the game.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 displays the preferred embodiment of the betting table layout of the present invention.

FIG. 2 exhibits an alternative, simpler betting table layout of an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a simple flow chart of the progress of a hand of the game of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention is a game employing a standard deck of 52 playing cards. The present invention has three primary phases: a betting phase, a card selection phase, and a payout phase. The 52-card deck includes all cards ace thru deuce (A thru 2). The table of the present invention, as seen in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 is segmented with a series of locations that correspond to card values and suits. In the betting phase of the present invention, two types of bets may be placed. The two types of bets are called inside bets and outside bets. The betting structure is similar to that of the conventional game Roulette.

The inside bets consist of 48 of the 52 cards in a typical 52 card deck (ace through three) not including the four deuces (2). The cards are ranked in rows highest to lowest from top to bottom: Ace being the highest ranked card, and 3 being the lowest ranked card. From top to bottom, the cards would have the following sequence A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3. These inside bets are also organized by columns from left to right by card type, as seen in FIG. 1. From left to right the columns would be marked Spade

, Heart

, Club

, Diamond ⋄ as seen at the bottom of FIG. 1.

The outside bets consist of general group bets, such as those placed on one of the four suits, or one of the two colors of the deck, which are conventionally known to correspond to the suits of the cards. Inside bets depend on the type of card that is selected in the card selection phase to determine the winning bet. The player has the options of placing a bet based on card number (A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3), suit (spade, heart, club, diamond), color (black or red), or level (Ace-Face-A, K, Q, J, Midway-10, 9, 8, 7, Lowball-6, 5, 4, 3). Deuces (twos) are not included in any of the outside bets. There is also an option of the “Any” bet. “Any” bets allow a player to place a bet on the whole numbered card, disregarding the suit, level, or color, as seen in FIG. 2.

The only place where a player cannot place a bet is the ‘No Deuce’ area. This area is marked at the very top of the table and reads as “No Deuce bets allowed.” This is meant to remind players that no bets may be placed on any card with a ‘2’ as a value. When and if a deuce (2) is selected, all bets placed by the players in any area on the table, inside and outside, equal an automatic loss for all players. This represents a control, and gives the house the slight advantage in the game of the present invention.

There is also a section for where the cards are placed this section is called the “Dealer Hand.” This section is in front of the “Any” bets or “No Deuce” area and is outlined in three squares where three cards will be placed. This is where either the player holding the cut card will make a selection or the dealer will automatically select card 2/middle card finalizing the outcome of the game.

Regular, face value casino chips are not usually used for the inside bets at the betting table employed by the present invention. Instead, when the player places money on the table layout and asks the dealer for chips, the dealer will give out special color-coded $1 or $5 value chips. This way each player playing the inside will get a different color of chips so the dealer can keep track of which chips belong to which player. Players are not allowed to share chips even though they may know each other, each player will have their own color-coded chips.

The Rules

Seats at the table are preferably reserved for players playing the inside or cut cardholders. These players get to select the final card, which decides the outcome of the game. Players playing the outside only can enter the game anytime bets are being placed. Outside players can also hold the cut card if no inside players are present.

Play of the game of the present invention preferably begins after the dealer has cleared off all losing bets and paid all winners from the previous hand. Players are given time to put down bets as the cards are being shuffled. After shuffling has completed, the dealer will preferably give the players a last chance to finalize their bets then call, “No more bets!”

After the call of “No more bets,” the dealer will take the first three cards out of the automatic shuffler and place them on the table in front of them, face down. At this point the dealer will ask the player holding the ‘cut card’ to “pick a card!” and that player will select either card 1, card 2, or card 3, or the dealer will automatically select card 2 (middle card), finalizing the outcome of the game.

When the player selects the which card they want to be the deciding card, referred to as the ‘active’ card, the dealer places the cut card on top of the final active card, then discards the other two along with the rest of the deck. The active card is then flipped over, preferably by the dealer, and the dealer places a win marker on the layout on the corresponding number or on top of any chips that have bet on that number. In the event that no winning bets were placed, the win marker is preferably still placed on the table in the location corresponding to the active card value. The dealer will then clear away all losing bets and payoff all those who have bet the active card and outside bets or combinations related to the winning active card. When this process is completed, the dealer will lift the win marker off the layout, and betting for a new hand of the game of the present invention may begin again.

Betting

Each table will preferably carry a sign describing the minimum and maximum bets at the table. For example, the sign might read, “Pick-A-Card. $5 minimum inside bets, $5 minimum outside bets. $1,000 maximum outside bets, $100 maximum inside bets.” Table maximums are lower on inside bets because of the higher payoffs offered. This notion is conventional to traditional table games.

Though the listed minimums for inside and outside bets are the same, they don't mean the same thing. A player betting the $5 minimum on inside bets is allowed to spread five $1 chips around on different bets on the inside. However, the minimum for outside bets means the player must wager the entire $5 on each outside bet. For example, betting $1 on black (xx), $1 on Any Ace (A), $1 on red (xx), $1 on a diamond (⋄) (xx), $1 on a club (

) (xx), does not equal the minimum bet of $5, despite a total of $5 being on the table. Rather, each bet placed on the outside within a specific designated location must equal at least the table minimum—in this case, $5.

The player may make bets by placing a chip or chips on the appropriate location. However, the size of the table may make it difficult to reach some betting areas. For a player to place a bet he or she can't reach, they may put the chips on the table and ask the dealer to place the desired bet for them.

Outside Bets

Red or black: There are 26 black cards and 26 red cards. A bet on red (170) pays off if the active card picked is suited with either a heart or diamond. Traditionally, hearts and diamonds on conventional playing cards are red. A bet on black (220) pays off if the card picked is suited with either a spade or club. Traditionally, spades and clubs on conventional playing cards are black. A winning red or black bet pays even money—the player keeps the original bet and gets an equal amount of winnings.

Suit: Wagers on any of the suits (spade bet (210), heart bet (200), club bet (190), or diamond bet (180)) pays 3 to 1. The final card picked Ace thru 3 with matching suit to the players wager is a winning bet.

Any: Wagers placed on Any-X slots are for players that want to bet on the single card. Disregarding its suit, rank or color. A winning wager pays 10 to 1. For example, placing a bet on the Any Ace (50) location produces a win if any of the four aces are selected from the deck.

Thirds: These three areas are marked by Ace-Face (250) (any A, K, Q, J), Mid-Way (240) (any 10, 9, 8, 7), and Low-Ball (230) (6, 5, 4, 3). Wagers placed in any of these areas pay 2 to 1. Deuces (any 2) are not included in any bet.

Inside Bets

Single Card: Bets on individual cards, not including jokers, which are not traditionally kept in the deck of 52 standard playing cards, are placed by putting chips fully inside the card's corresponding location on the table. If that single card is picked, it pays 48 to 1. However, if the same type of card is picked but the suit is different, the player keeps their bet. For example, if a player places a $2 bet on the Ace of spades but the winning card is the Ace of diamonds, the hand is considered a push, and the player retains their bet.

Split: Split bets can only be placed on cards that are adjacent to each other on the table; these bets pay 24 to 1. There are preferably only two types of split bets, Horizontal & Vertical. This is in contrast to conventional Roulette betting structure.

Horizontal Splits: This type of bet is placed between the same type of card but with a different suit. For example an Ace card horizontal split can be between an ace of spades (10) & ace of hearts (20), ace of hearts (20) & ace of clubs (30), ace of clubs (30) & ace of diamonds (40), ace of diamonds (40) & ace of spades (10). Since the ace of diamonds (40) & ace of spades (10) aren't connected on the table, this bet can be placed by a player placing his/her chips on the end of the ace of diamonds square, where the Any Ace (A) square (50) begins or the first line of the ace of spades square (210) where the royal thirds (250) outline ends.

Vertical Splits: This type of bet is conventionally placed between the same type of suit but different card rank. For example, bets can be placed between A-K, K-Q, Q-J, J-10, and continuing down the line until the Three (3) is reached. To make a combination ace-three bet, the player must place his or her chips at the top line of the square the Ace is held, in the suited column of their choosing.

Any split bet cannot be saved as single card bets can. If a player has a combination hand that does not hit the same suit where their bet is placed, that player loses their combination bet. Also, players are not allowed to make as ‘corner’ or ‘street bets’ known in Roulette; these are the only type of combination bets in this game. Combination wagers for any outside bets are prohibited.

House Edge

The house edge (also known as the ‘house advantage’) is the amount the player loses relative to any bet made, on average. If a player plays the inside only, and bets a single number there is a probability of 1/52 that the player wins 48 times the bet, and a 51/52 chance that a player loses their bet. The expected value is:

Winning Bet Spaces Payout Any single card Any single card 48 to 1 played on the  

 , 

 , 

 , ⋄, A, K, Q, J, inside area of 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 the table Red (170) Any 

 or ⋄ 1 to 1 Black (220) Any 

 or 

1 to 1 Ace-Face (250) Any A, K, Q, J 2 to 1 Mid-Way (240) Any 10, 9, 8, 7 2 to 1 Low-Ball (230) Any 6, 5, 4, 3 2 to 1

 (210)

 A, K, Q, J, 3 to 1 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3

 (200)

 A, K, Q, J, 3 to 1 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3

 (190)

 A, K, Q, J, 3 to 1 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 ⋄ (180) ⋄ A, K, Q, J, 3 to 1 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 Combination A-K or A 

 -A 

 etc. 24 to 1 Any Bet Any- A, K, Q, J, 11 to 1 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3

It should be noted that for the sake of this application, the conventional currency of American Dollars is employed; however, it should be understood that any numerical credit based system of currency may be employed with the game of the present invention, including, but not limited to Euros, Pounds, Yen, etc.

In alternate embodiments of the present invention, it is envisioned that more than three initial cards may be drawn by the dealer, in order to provide the player with a larger pool of cards from which to select the active card.

Similarly, in alternate embodiments of the present invention, it can be envisioned that the dealer may show the cards that were discarded after the hand is over. This can be used as a benefit to the house, as it may imply to players that they were ‘close’ to winning, yet simply picked the wrong active card out of the available set.

It is understood that the present invention is not solely limited to the invention as described in the embodiments above, but further comprises any and all embodiments within the scope of the claims listed below. 

1-19. (canceled)
 20. A card selection game apparatus comprising: a table; a standard deck of 52 playing cards; wherein said table is equipped with a series of player stations; wherein said table is equipped with markings designating specific properties of a sole playing card selected from the standard deck of 52 playing cards that correlate to values found on said standard deck of 52 playing cards; a dealing mechanism; wherein said dealing mechanism deals three cards from said standard deck of 52 playing cards; wherein said dealing mechanism selects a sole active card from said three cards, designating said sole active card as the active card; and wherein said dealing mechanism awards a payment according to the suit and value of said active card, said payment awarded according to established odds 